Overview: Sicily's most famous resort town, Taormina, was the 19th-century
haunt of British aristocracy and the place chosen by D H Lawrence
to write his erotic novel, Lady Chatterley's Lover. The
town boasts what is surely the most photographed view in Sicily,
across the beautiful ancient Greek amphitheatre to the sea with
Mount Etna in the background. Taormina today remains Sicily's
favourite tourist haunt with its winding medieval streets and tiny
passages hiding some great restaurants, cafes and ice-cream
parlours, some hidden in secluded gardens and others in pleasant
squares or terraces with sea views. It is a great place to shop,
too, with thousands of boutiques selling crafts, fashion,
jewellery, ceramics, mosaics and porcelain dolls. A popular beach
is at Giardini-Naxos, a few miles away, and a funicular connects
the old town to the coastal area of Mazzaro below. The stone walls
of the old city, sited on a plateau, enclose some fascinating
archaeological monuments and medieval palaces including the Palazzo
Santo Stefano.
Attractions
Catania: The second-largest city in Sicily, Catania sits in the shadow of
Europe's highest volcano, Mount Etna, on the east of Sicily between
Syracuse and Taormina. Ugly, decayed and crime-ridden today, it was
once called the 'city of black and white' because of the use of
white marble and black lava to construct its elegant buildings,
many of which have since fallen into ruins or been destroyed by
war, earthquakes and lava flows. In summer Catania sizzles; it is
regarded as the hottest city in Italy with temperatures often
soaring to 104ºF (40ºC). Despite its unattractive
aspects, Catania is an ancient city, founded in 729 BC, and boasts
some interesting historical relics. There are two Roman
amphitheatres, one reminiscent of Rome's Colosseum, and a
13th-century fortress, Ursino Castle, which is now a museum. The
city's cathedral contains some royal tombs and was built in the
11th century.
MountEtna : Sicily's greatest natural attraction is the very active volcano,
Mount Etna, which has been spewing lava and shaking the earth for
centuries, most recently in 2002. About 20 miles (32km) from
Catania the craters below the summit can be reached from the town
of Piano Provenzana at the base by mountain bus or on foot. This
town also serves as a ski resort in winter, and during summer is a
base camp for hikers intent on enjoying the wooded scenery and
exploring the interesting caverns in the area. Various species of
oak and stone pine, birch and beech trees cover the lower mountain
slopes, while frogs, toads, tortoise and Sicily's ubiquitous
lizards hide in the forest streams. Foxes, weasels, squirrels and
other small mammals stalk the forests and a plethora of bird
species fill the trees and the Gurrida Lake area.
Ortygia: The Ponte Nuova ('New Bridge') connects the mainland city of
Syracuse to the island of Ortygia, where most of the worthy sights
are located. The remains of the Temple of Apollo are sited in the
Piazza Pancali; this is the oldest Greek temple in Sicily, built in
the Doric style in around 565 BC. The cathedral in the nearby
Piazza Duomo is uniquely made up of the original walls of a
5th-century BC Greek temple known as the Athenaion and near the
sea, reached along Via Capodieci, which is the mythical Spring of
Arethusa. There are medieval relics on the island too, including
Maniaces Castle dating from the 11th century. Apart from the many
historic sights, the island of Ortygia also offers numerous
boutiques and craft shops, as well as restaurants and cafes galore.
Several hours are required to explore the island fully.
ParcoArcheologico della Neapolis : The archaeological park on the western edge of the city of
Syracuse contains the celebrated rock-hewn Greek amphitheatre,
capable of holding about 15,000 people, where Euripides and
Aeschylus' works were performed in antiquity. Today Greek dramas
are still played here on occasion. Inside a leafy quarry at the
site near the theatre is the ear-shaped cavern, the Orecchio di
Dionigi, reputedly used by Dionysius as a prison. Nearby is the
Roman Amphitheatre, built in the time of Augustus, where gladiators
fought each other and wild animals in gory contests.
Address: Via Del Teatro;
Telephone: (0931) 66206;
Opening time: Daily 9am to 6pm (April to October), 9am to 3pm (November to March);
Admission: €4.50
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